how to empty radiator - 1998 s40

[billofdurham]

The engine should be off whilst you are draining the coolant, otherwise the water pump will be circulating it and, as the coolant level drops you could overheat the engine.

Use a good quality anti-freeze with distilled water to dilute it. The anti-freeze may not be necessary in Hawaii but it does keep the innards of the engine clean and must be used all year.

Bill.

[pwhisler]

well, what i mean to say is that it seems i didn't adequately drain out the old fluid, because it seems like I only got half out, 3/6.3 liters.

1. I jacked up that car to put something under the radiator drain to catch the fluid.
2. I took out the plug to let the fluid drain out
3. I put the plug back in and filled it with water from the hose
4. I ran the car for about 7 minutes to warm it up
5. I drained it again
6. Then when I tried to fill it, I was only able to get in 2 liters of water and it was full, so I ran the car again for about 12 minutes, and I was able to get in another liter of water, for a total of 3 liters of water. No room for the 3 liters of coolant I was planning on putting in...

did i do something wrong?

[billofdurham]

did i do something wrong?

You jacked up the car so the back of the engine was lower than the drain in the radiator. This would stop a lot of the water coming out, especially from the heater. Did you open the drain on the rear of the engine?

Bill.

[pwhisler]

no, i didn't know there was a drain in the back, just the one on the front bottom of the radiator. ok, thanks, i'll try it again without jacking it up.

[billofdurham]

If you go back to jablackburn's post he said there was a drain at the rear of the engine of the S70. I posted a picture of the drain in the next post as it is the same on the S/V40. Opening this will get more water out.

Bill.

[xHeart]

Before starting work set your heat control to maximum heat so the heater will drain. Leave it on max until you have refilled the system.

Bill.

I will be replacing water pump on '97 850. This time I will switch over to zerex g05, therefore drain all of green stuff. What is "set heat control to maximum heat so the heater will drain". Is this cabin climate knob setting?

TIA.